SA Cardio Exam Summary

Question 1

explain how you would do a cardio exam of a dog

Answer 1

1. distant exam: gait, mentation, BCS, respiration, BAR
2. hydration: mucus membranes and skin tent (sunken eyes)
3. perfusion: CRT and mucus membrane color, distal extremities
4. nose, mouth, trachea: nasal discahrge, oral obstructions, swellings or coughing
5. heart auscultation: rate, rhythm, murmurs, valves
6. evaluate pulses: bounding or weak, synchronus with heart (listen at the same time)
7. lung auscultation: sterter, stridor, dyspnea, 4 spots on each side

Question 2

where do you put the ECG stuff?

Answer 2

white on right axillary skin
black on left axillary skin
red on left hind leg in the inguinal area

dont forget alcohol!

Question 3

how do you calculate HR on an ECG?

Answer 3

find out how long 3 seconds is using the paper speed, count how many QRS complexes there are, and then multiply by 20

Question 4

what are some basic ways to analyze the ECG of a dog?

Answer 4

• are the QRS intervals the same?
• is there a P wave for every QRS?
• is there a QRS for every P?
• are the beats of sinus origin?
• do all the QRS and P waves look the same?

Question 5

describe the difference between 1st degree AV block, 2nd degree, and 3rd degree

Answer 5

1st degree: prolonged PR interval, prolonged conduction across the AV node, often incidental finding
2nd degree: dropped beats
3rd degree: atria and ventricle completely separated from each other

Question 6

describe the 2 types of 2nd degree AV block

Answer 6

mobitz type I: the PR intervals progressively increase before the dropped beat
mobitz type II: the PR intervals are consistent and do not change before the dropped beat, disease of the bundle of His or bundle branches